Rawalpindi Tehsil facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rawalpindi
راولپنڈی
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| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province | Punjab |
| District | Rawalpindi |
| Population
(2017)
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| • Total | 3,258,547 |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
Rawalpindi is a big city in Pakistan. It is located in the western part of the Punjab province. Rawalpindi is also a "tehsil," which is a type of administrative area, like a county or district. It is the main city of the Rawalpindi District.
Contents
Discovering Rawalpindi's Past
Rawalpindi has a very long and interesting history. People have lived here for thousands of years.
Ancient Beginnings
Archaeologists have found old remains in Rawalpindi. These show that people settled here a very long time ago. There are even ruins of an old Buddhist settlement. This settlement existed around the same time as the famous ruins at nearby Taxila. It is believed that a group called the Huns destroyed this first city.
Ghakkar Chiefs Take Over
The city was empty for a while after the Hun attack. Later, a Muslim ruler named Mahmud of Ghazni gave the ruined city to a Ghakkar chief named Kai Gohar.
Because the area was easy for invaders to reach, the city stayed empty. But then, another Ghakkar chief, Jahanda Khan, rebuilt it. He named the city Rawalpindi, after a nearby village called Rawal.
Sikh Rule and Trade
The Ghakkar chiefs ruled Rawalpindi until 1765. In that year, a group called the Sikhs defeated the last Ghakkar ruler, Muqrab Khan. Under Sikh rule, many traders were invited to come and live in Rawalpindi. This helped the city become a busy trading center.
However, in the 1800s, the Sikhs lost control of the city. The British took over. The British built a military area, called a cantonment, south of the old city.
British Influence
In 1879, a railway line was built to Rawalpindi. This train service officially started on January 1, 1886. Rawalpindi became an important military base for the British Army. It was the headquarters for their Northern Command until 1947. After Pakistan became an independent country in 1947, it became the headquarters for the Pakistan Army.
Over the years, Rawalpindi has kept its traditional culture. However, it has also become much more modern since Pakistan was created. Today, Rawalpindi is very close to Islamabad, which is Pakistan's capital city. They are often called "twin cities."
Exploring Rawalpindi's Markets
The old city of Rawalpindi is famous for its lively markets, called bazaars. These bazaars have many unique and old shops.
- Saddar Bazaar: A well-known market.
- Moti Bazaar: Another popular shopping area.
- Raja Bazaar: Known for its variety of goods.
- Kashmiri Bazaar: Offers items from Kashmir.
- Sarafa Bazaar: Famous for beautiful gold and silver jewelry. You can also find brass and copper items here.
Rawalpindi has always been a big market for goods coming from Kashmir and the North-West Frontier Province. The bazaars are known for special handmade items.
- Furniture: You can find furniture made from sheesham and walnut wood, often with beautiful designs.
- Clothing: Look for Kashmiri silver, shawls, jackets, and embroidered woollen kurtas.
- Footwear: Potohar shoes and chappals (sandals) are popular.
- Crafts: There are cane baskets, cane furniture, and walking sticks.
- Carpets: Hand-woven Kashmiri and Bokhara carpets are also available.
